Package including access opening with closure flap

ABSTRACT

A package ( 110 ) for cigarettes comprises a box ( 112 ) comprising a front wall ( 114 ), a rear wall ( 116 ), a bottom wall ( 122 ), opposed side walls ( 118, 118′ ) and a top wall ( 120 ) having an opening ( 124 ) therein for accessing the cigarettes ( 146 ) in the package, in which the opening extends across the top wall from the front edge thereof and wherein the periphery of the access opening is spaced apart from the rear edge ( 132 ) and the side edges of the top wall so that the top wall extends around the rear ( 126 ) and sides ( 128, 128′ ) of the opening. A closure flap ( 130 ) moveable between a closed position in which the flap covers the opening and an open position in which the opening is uncovered extends from the rear wall of the package. A blank for such a pack is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a novel package for consumer goodsincluding an opening for access to the pack contents and a flap forclosing the opening. The invention also encompasses a containerincluding such a package inside an outer housing. The packages andcontainers of the invention are useful in the packaging of elongatearticles such as cigarettes and other smoking articles.

Cigarettes are often presented in hinge lid packs, which comprise alower rectangular box portion having front and rear walls connected byside walls and a bottom wall, and a lid comprising front and rear wallsconnected by side walls and a top wall, the lid being hinged to the boxto close it.

It has also been proposed to provide a pack comprising front and rearwalls joined by side walls, a bottom wall and a top wall. Access to theinterior of the pack is provided by a cutout from the top wall extendingfrom the rear edge across the top wall to the front edge of the top walland partly into the front wall of the pack, leaving margins on bothsides of the top wall and leaving most of the front wall intact. A flapextends upwards from the rear wall of the pack that can be bent over thetop wall and the front wall to close the opening and be secured to thefront wall. Packs of this type can suffer from a lack of rigidity,especially when made of relatively thin card or of paper.

It would be useful to provide a package of the foregoing type havinggreater rigidity to minimize distortion of the package in use, so givinggreater protection to consumer goods in the package. It would also beuseful to provide such a package that can be manufactured and assembledwith minimal modification to conventional packaging machinery andtechniques.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided apackage for consumer goods comprising a box, the box comprising a frontwall, a rear wall opposed to the front wall, a bottom wall, opposed sidewalls and a top wall having an opening therein for accessing theconsumer goods in the package, in which the opening extends across thetop wall from the front edge thereof and wherein the periphery of theaccess opening is spaced apart from the rear edge and the side edges ofthe top wall so that the top wall extends around the rear and sides ofthe opening.

In some embodiments, the package further comprises a flap moveablebetween a closed position in which the flap covers the opening and anopen position in which the opening is uncovered. In some embodiments,the flap is hinged to the rear wall along the top edge of the rear wall.

In some embodiments, the opening also extends part way down the frontwall from the front edge of the top wall and the flap comprises a topflap portion that overlies the top wall when the flap is in the closedposition and a front flap portion that at least partly overlies thefront wall when the flap is in the closed position.

In some embodiments, the opening extends over no more than 80 percent,preferably no more than 70 percent, more preferably no more than 60percent of the depth of the top wall from the front edge of the top walltowards the rear edge thereof. In some embodiments, the surface area ofthe opening in the top wall of the housing is no more than 70 percent,preferably no more than 60 percent, more preferably no more than 50percent of the surface area of the top of the package. In someembodiments, the surface area of the opening is at least 5 percent,preferably at least 20 percent of the surface area of the top of thepackage.

In some embodiments, in the closed position the flap can be receivedbehind the front wall of the housing or in a slit or cut out in thefront wall of the package in the closed position.

In some embodiments, the flap includes a resealable adhesive on at leasta portion of the inner surface thereof so that the closure flap can beresealably affixed to the front wall of the package in the closedposition.

In some embodiments, the top wall comprises an upper top wall panelextending from the front wall of the housing and including an integralrear portion and side portions and a pair of lower top wall panelsextending from the top edges of the side walls of the housing andunderlying the side portions of the upper top wall panel.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided apackage according to the first aspect of the invention housed in anouter housing.

Packages according to the invention are useful for containing bundles ofsmoking articles, such as cigarettes, in the box. In a third aspect, theinvention encompasses a pack according to the invention with one or morebundles of smoking articles inside. The package may contain, forexample, cigarettes, cigars or cigarillos. It will be appreciated thatthrough appropriate selection of the package dimensions, packagesaccording to the invention may be made for different numbers ofconventional size, king size, super-king size, slim or super-slimcigarettes. Packages in accordance with the present invention can alsobe used for consumer goods other than smoking articles.

In packages according to the invention, the periphery of the opening isset apart from the rear and side edges of the top wall of the package.The top wall thus extends around three sides (rear and both sides) ofthe opening so that the side portions of the top wall are bridged by therear portion. This provides improved rigidity and in particular,improved resistance to shear forces. This in turn reduces the likelihoodof distortion of the package, for example when a user is holding it,which provides improved protection for the consumer goods in thepackage.

The top wall can be formed as a single panel rather than two separateside panels as in the prior art, because of the inclusion of the rearbridging portion. This reduces the number of folds required during theassembly process, simplifying production. The closure flap functions ina similar way to prior art packs; the presence of the bridging portionof the top wall does not significantly affect the construction orclosure of the package.

Also according to the invention there is provided a laminar blank for apackage according to any of claims 1 to 11, the blank comprising abox-defining portion including a front wall panel, a rear wall panel,first and second side wall panels and a top wall panel including anopening, in which the opening extends from the front edge of the topwall panel and in which the top wall panel extends around the back andsides of the opening, and a flap hinged to the rear wall panel of thebox-defining portion along the top edge of the rear wall panel.Preferably, the front wall panel has an opening contiguous with theopening in the top wall panel.

In preferred embodiments, the blank comprises a front wall panel, anouter side wall panel extending from each of two opposed edges of thefront wall panel, a top wall panel extending from an edge of the frontwall panel, a bottom wall panel extending from an edge of the front wallpanel opposite the top wall panel, a side wall tab extending from eachof two opposed edges of the bottom wall panel, a rear wall panelextending from an edge of the bottom wall panel opposite the front wallpanel, an inner side wall panel extending from each of two opposed edgesof the rear wall panel, and a closure flap panel extending from the edgeof the rear wall panel opposite the bottom wall panel, the panels andtabs being defined from each other by fold lines. Preferably, theclosure flap panel comprises a top wall closure panel extending from thepanel edge of the rear wall panel opposite the bottom wall panel, and afront wall closure panel extending from the edge of the top wall closurepanel opposite the rear wall panel.

It will be appreciated that features described with reference to oneaspect of the present invention are applicable to any other aspect ofthe invention. Advantages described in relation to one aspect of theinvention may also apply to another aspect of the invention.

The terms “front”, “rear”, “upper”, “lower”, “above”, “below”, “side”,“left”, “right”, “lateral”, “top”, “bottom” and other terms used todescribe relative positions of the components of containers according tothe invention refer to the container in an upright position with an openend of the box portion at the top and the consumer goods accessible fromthe upper end. The terms “side” and “lateral” are used with reference toside walls of the container when the container is viewed from the frontin its upright position.

When the packages of the invention are to be used as packs forcigarettes or other smoking articles, they can be made to hold differentnumbers of smoking articles, or different arrangements of smokingarticles. For example, a pack according to the invention may be designedto hold a total of between ten and twenty smoking articles.

The smoking articles in the pack may be arranged in differentcollations, depending on the total number of smoking articles.Preferably, the smoking articles are arranged in two or more rows. Thetwo or more rows may contain the same number of smoking articles.Alternatively, the two or more rows may include at least two rowscontaining different number of smoking articles to each other.Preferably, the ratio of the height of the container to the depth of thecontainer is in between about 0.3 to 1 and about 10 to 1, morepreferably between about 2 to 1 and about 8 to 1, most preferablybetween about 3 to 1 and 5 to 1.

Preferably, the ratio of the width of the container to the depth of thecontainer is between about 0.3 to 1 and about 10 to 1, more preferablybetween about 2 to 1 and about 8 to 1, most preferably between about 2to 1 and 3 to 1.

The exterior surfaces of containers according to the invention may beprinted, embossed, debossed or otherwise embellished with manufactureror brand logos, trade marks, slogans and other consumer information andindicia.

The term “hinge” is used throughout this specification to refer to aline common to the flap and the box of the package; the flap pivotsabout the hinge line between a closed position and an open position. Thehinge may extend across all or a part of the width of the top wall ofthe container at any location on the rear margin of the box top wall,that is, between the rear edge of the box top wall and the rear edge ofthe opening. In some embodiments, the hinge line may substantiallycoincide with the rear edge of the box top wall. In other embodiments,the hinge may extend across all or a part of the width of the box topwall of the container at an intermediate position between the rear edgeof the box top wall and the front edge of the box top wall.

In use of a package according to the invention, the user pivots the flapabout the hinge line to uncover the opening and so gain access toarticles held in the box. The user pivots the flap back to cover theopening. When the flap is in the closed position, the opening is atleast partly obstructed by the lid so that the interior of the packageis inaccessible and the consumer goods cannot be removed from thepackage.

Packages according to the invention may be formed of a single laminarblank. In a fourth aspect, the invention provides a laminar blank for apackage according to the invention. In some embodiments, the blankcomprises a box-defining portion including a front wall panel, a rearwall panel, first and second side wall panels and a top wall panelincluding an opening, in which the opening extends from the front edgeof the top wall panel and in which the top wall panel extends around theback and sides of the opening; and a flap hinged to the box. In someembodiments, the flap is hinged to the rear wall panel of thebox-defining portion along the top edge of the rear wall panel.

The term “panel” is used in this specification to refer to a portion ofa package blank that forms part or all of a wall of the assembledcontainer. A panel may depend along one or more fold lines from one ormore other panels. The term “fold line” refers to a fold between twoadjacent panels. When forming the container, adjacent panels are foldedalong their common fold line, which may come to define an edge of thecontainer or of a portion thereof. In the assembled container, a “wall”may be formed of one or of several overlying panels that are attached toeach other, for example by means of an adhesive. Further, a wall may beformed from two or more abutting or overlapping panels.

Packages according to the present invention can conveniently bemanufactured by folding laminar blanks made from any suitable materialincluding, but not limited to, cardboard, paperboard, plastic, metal, orcombinations thereof. Preferably, the package is formed from a foldedlaminar card blank. Preferably, the card has a weight of between about100 grams per square metre and about 250 grams per square metre, morepreferably between about 120 grams per square metre and about 180 gramsper square metre. Packages according to the invention will typically beassembled in the conventional way using standard manufacturingequipment, by folding one or more laminar blanks around the consumerarticles and sealing overlying panels of the laminar blanks together inorder to retain the container in the assembled shape. This may beachieved using conventional glues or adhesives.

The laminar blanks include score lines or fold lines delineating onepanel of the blank from another, allowing the blank to be formed intothe package and, for some panels, to allow them to hinge on anotherpanel. In the finished package, the score lines or fold lines may be onthe inside of the package or on the outside of the package.

The invention will be further described, by way of example, withreference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a package according to one embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 2 shows a blank for the package of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a package according to another embodimentof the invention; and

FIG. 4 shows a blank for the package of FIG. 3.

The package 110 of the embodiment of FIG. 1 is a pack for cigarettes. Itcomprises a box 112 having a front wall 114, a rear wall 116 (notvisible in FIG. 1) opposed to the front wall and side walls 118, 118′(only one of which is visible in FIG. 1) connecting the front wall tothe rear wall, a top wall 120 and a bottom wall 122 (not visible in FIG.1). An opening 124 extends part way across the front portion of the topwall 120 and part way down the front wall 114. Rear 126 and side 128,128′ margins of the top wall remain and define that part of the opening124 in the top wall. The opening extends down 25% of the height of thefront wall 114; this proportion can be changed depending on the size ofthe package in relation to the goods carried in the package. In theembodiment of FIG. 1, the opening extends across about ⅔ of the width ofthe package; again, this proportion can be changed depending on the sizeof the package in relation to the goods carried in the package.

A closure flap 130 extends from the rear wall 16 of the package and ishinged to the rear edge 132 of the top wall 120. The closure flapconsists of a top wall closure panel 134 extending from the rear wall116 of the pack, from which a front wall closure panel 136 extends alonga fold 138. A tab 140 extends from the front wall closure panel 136along fold 142. A line 144 of reasealable adhesive extends across thelower part of the front wall closure panel 136.

In use of the package 110, the user holds the tab 138 of the flap 130 ofthe closed package and hinges it upwards, unsealing the line 144 ofreasealable adhesive to uncover the opening 124 to allow a cigarette 146to be removed from the package. The pack is closed by hinging the topwall panel 134 of the flap onto the top wall 120 and then hinging thefront wall panel 136 of the flap onto the front wall 114 of the packageto close the opening 124. Pressure on the front wall panel will resealthe line 144 of resealable adhesive to hold the flap 130 in the closedposition.

FIG. 2 shows a blank 200 for making a pack of the type shown in FIG. 1.In FIG. 2, solid lines indicate cuts in the blank and broken linesindicate fold lies. The blank is a single piece of paper or cardcomprising rectangular panels corresponding to each panel of the packand additional panels for construction of the pack, as follows. Fromeach long edge of a front wall panel 214 extends an outer side wallpanel 218, defined from the front wall panel by score lines 250. Fromone short edge of the front wall panel 214 extends a top wall panel 220,defined from the front wall panel by a score line 252. A generallyrectangular cutout 224 from the front wall and top wall panels providesthe opening 124 in the top and front walls of the finished pack. Fromthe other short edge of the front wall panel 214 extends a bottom wallpanel 222, defined from the front wall panel by a score line 254. Fromthe opposite edge of the bottom wall panel 222 extends a rear wall panel216, defined from the bottom wall panel by a score line 256. From eachlong edge of the rear wall panel 216 extend inner side wall panels 218′,defined from the rear wall panel by score lines 250′. From the shortedges of the inner side wall panels 218′ adjacent the outer side wallpanels 218 extend side wall tabs 258, defined from the box inner sidewall panels by score lines 260. From the other short edges of the innerside wall panels 218′ extend top wall tabs 262, defined from the innerside wall panels by score lines 264. From the short edge of the rearwall panel 216 opposite that from which the bottom panel 222 extends, atop wall closure panel 234 extends, defined from the rear wall panel bya score line 266; from the opposite edge of this panel extends a frontwall closure panel 236, defined by a score line 268. From the oppositeedge of the front wall closure panel 236 extends a tab panel 240,defined by a score line 270.

To form a pack from the blank, the pack is folded around a bundle ofcigarettes so that the front 214 and rear 216 wall panels oppose eachother, connected by the inner 218′ and outer 218 side walls, which areadhered together. The side wall tabs 258 are folded onto and adhered tothe inside of the bottom wall panel 222. The top wall tabs 262 arefolded onto the top of the bundle and the top wall panel 220 is foldedonto and adhered to the top wall tabs. A strip of resealable adhesive isapplied to the inside face of the front wall closure panel 236 The scorelines between the rear wall panel 214, the top wall closure panel 234,the front wall closure panel 236 and the tab panel 240 are folded, sothat the pack can be closed by adhesion of the adhesive strip 144(FIG. 1) on the front wall closure panel to the front wall panel 214.The pack may then be overwrapped, with a transparent plastics film, suchas a biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film.

The pack 310 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is similar to that shownin FIG. 1 (and like reference numerals are used to show like elements)except for the way in which the closure flap 330 is retained in theclosed position.

The package 310 comprises a box 112 having a front wall 114, a rear wall116 (not visible in FIG. 3) opposed to the front wall and side walls118, 118′ (only one of which is visible in FIG. 3) connecting the frontwall to the rear wall, a top wall 120 and a bottom wall 122 (not visiblein FIG. 3). An opening 124 extends part way across the front portion ofthe top wall 120 and part way down the front wall 114. Rear 126 and side128, 128′ margins of the top wall remain and define the portion of theopening 124 in the top wall. The opening extends down 25% of the heightof the front wall 114; this proportion can be changed depending on thesize of the package in relation to the goods carried in the package. Inthe embodiment of FIG. 3, the opening extends across about ⅔ of thewidth of the package; the width of the opening; again, this proportioncan be changed depending on the size of the package in relation to thegoods carried in the package.

A closure flap 330 extends from the rear wall 116 of the package and ishinged to the rear edge 132 of the top wall. The flap consists of a topwall closure panel 334 extending from the rear wall 116 of the pack,from which a front wall closure panel 336 extends along a fold 338. Thefront wall closure panel comprises an upper portion 340 of substantiallythe same width as the front wall 114 from which extends, along fold 342,a tapered panel 344. The tapered panel 344 is of a width sufficient toclose the aperture 124 in the front wall of the pack. The width of thetapered panel 340 reduces in the direction away from the upper portion340 of the front wall closure panel 336. A tab 346 extends from thetapered panel 344 from a fold 348 along the edge of the tapered panelopposite the upper portion 344. A slot 350 extends across the middlepart of the width of the front wall 114 of the pack, below the loweredge of the opening 124. The slot 350 can receive the free end portionof the tab 346 of the tapered panel 344 and the lower part of thetapered panel itself when the flap is in the closed position, holdingthe flap in that position.

To open the pack, the user pulls the tapered tab 340 free of the slot348 and hinges the flap 330 upwards to uncover the opening 124. To closethe pack, the user hinges the top wall panel 334 of the flap onto thetop wall 20 and then hinges the front wall panel 336 of the flap ontothe front wall 114 of the package to close the opening 24. The free endportion of the tapered panel 340 is inserted into the slot 348 to holdthe flap in the closed position. The fold lines 342, 248 between theupper portion 340, the tapered panel 344 and the tab 346 of the frontwall closure panel 336 facilitate insertion of the panel into andremoval it from the slot 350.

FIG. 4 shows a blank 400 for making a pack of the type shown in FIG. 3.In FIG. 4, solid lines indicate cuts in the blank and broken linesindicate score lines. The blank is a single piece of paper or cardcomprising rectangular panels corresponding to each wall of the pack andadditional panels for construction of the pack, as follows. The blank400 is similar to the blank 200 of FIG. 2 (and like reference numeralsare used to show like elements). The blank is a single piece of paper orcard comprising rectangular panels corresponding to each wall of thepack and additional panels for construction of the pack, as follows.From each long edge of a front wall panel 214 extends an outer side wallpanel, defined from the front wall panel by score lines 250. From oneshort edge of the front wall panel 214 extends a top wall panel 220,defined from the front wall panel by a score line 252. A generallyrectangular cutout 224 from the front wall and top wall panels providesthe opening 124 in the top and front walls of the finished pack. A slot350 extends partially across central part of the front wall panel 214.From the other short edge of the front wall panel 214 extends a bottomwall panel 222, defined from the front wall panel by a score line 254.From the opposite edge of the bottom wall panel 222 extends a rear wallpanel 216, defined from the bottom wall panel by a score line 256. Fromeach long edge of the rear wall panel 216 extend inner side wall panels218′, defined from the rear wall panel by score lines 250′. From theshort edges of the inner side wall panels 218′ adjacent the outer sidewall panels 218 extend side wall tabs 258, defined from the box innerside wall panels by score lines 260. From the other short edges of theinner side wall panels 218′ extend top wall tabs 262, defined from theinner side wall panels by score lines 264. From the short edge of therear wall panel 216 opposite that from which the bottom panel 222extends, a top wall closure panel 434 extends, defined from the rearwall panel by a score line 466; from the opposite edge of this panelextends the upper portion 440 of a front wall closure panel 436, definedby a score line 468 from the top wall closure panel 434. From theopposite edge of the upper portion 440 extends a tapered panel 444,defined from the upper portion 440 by a score line 470. From theopposite edge of the tapered panel 444 extends a tab panel 446, definedfrom the tapered panel by a score line 448.

To form a pack from the blank, the pack is folded around a bundle ofcigarettes so that the front 214 and rear 216 wall panels oppose eachother, connected by the inner 218′ and outer 218 side walls, which areadhered together. The side wall tabs 258 are folded onto and adhered tothe inside of the bottom wall panel 222. The top wall tabs 262 arefolded onto the top of the bundle and the top wall panel 220 is foldedonto and adhered to the top wall tabs. The score lines between the rearwall panel 214, the top wall closure panel 434, the upper portion 440 ofthe front wall closure panel 436, the tapered portion 444 of the frontwall closure panel and the tab panel 446 are folded, so that the packcan be closed by insertion of the tab panel and part of the taperedpanel into the slot 350 in the front wall panel 214. The pack may thenbe overwrapped, with a transparent plastics film, such as a biaxiallyoriented polypropylene (BOPP) film.

1. A package for consumer goods comprising a box, the box comprising: afront wall; a rear wall opposed to the front wall; a bottom wall;opposed side walls; a top wall having an opening therein for accessingthe consumer goods in the package, the opening extends across the topwall from the front edge thereof and wherein the periphery of the accessopening is spaced apart from the rear edge and the side edges of the topwall so that the top wall extends around the rear and sides of theopening; and a flap hinged to the rear wall along the top edge of therear wall moveable between a closed position in which the flap coversthe opening and an open position in which the opening is uncovered.
 2. Apackage according to claim 1 in which the opening also extends part waydown the front wall from the front edge of the top wall and in which theflap comprises a top flap portion that overlies the top wall when theflap is in the closed position and a front flap portion that at leastpartly overlies the front wall when the flap is in the closed position.3. A package according claim 1 in which the opening extends over no morethan 80 percent of the depth of the top wall from the front edge of thetop wall towards the rear edge thereof.
 4. A package according to claim1 in which the surface area of the opening in the top wall of thehousing is no more than 70 percent of the top of the package.
 5. Apackage according to claim 1 in which the surface area of the opening isat least 5 percent of the surface area of the top of the package.
 6. Apackage according to claim 1 formed of a single laminar blank.
 7. Apackage according to claim 1 in which the flap can be received behindthe front wall of the housing in the closed position.
 8. A packageaccording to claim 1 in which the flap includes a resealable adhesive onat least a portion of the inner surface thereof so that the closure flapcan be resealably affixed to the front wall of the package in the closedposition, or in which the flap can be received in a slit or cut out inthe front wall of the package in the closed position.
 9. A packageaccording to claim 1 in which the top wall comprises an upper top wallpanel extending from the front wall of the housing and including anintegral rear portion and side portions and a pair of lower top wallpanels extending from the top edges of the side walls of the housing andunderlying the side portions of the upper top wall panel.
 10. A packageaccording to claim 1 containing a bundle of smoking articles within thebox.
 11. A container according to claim 1 comprising a package accordingto any preceding claim in an outer housing.
 12. A laminar blank for apackage according to claim 1, the blank comprising: a box-definingportion including a front wall panel, a rear wall panel, first andsecond side wall panels and a top wall panel including an opening, inwhich the opening extends from the front edge of the top wall panel andin which the top wall panel extends around the back and sides of theopening; and a flap hinged to the rear wall panel of the box-definingportion along the top edge of the rear wall panel.
 13. A blank accordingto claim 12 comprising: a front wall panel; an outer side wall panelextending from each of two opposed edges of the front wall panel; a topwall panel extending from an edge of the front wall panel having anopening therein extending from the edge of the front wall panel; abottom wall panel extending from an edge of the front wall panelopposite the top wall panel; a side wall tab extending from each of twoopposed edges of the bottom wall panel; a rear wall panel extending froman edge of the bottom wall panel opposite the front wall panel; an innerside wall panel extending from each of two opposed edges of the rearwall panel; and a closure flap panel extending from the edge of the rearwall panel opposite the bottom wall panel, the panels and tabs beingdefined from each other by fold lines.
 14. A blank according to claim 13in which the closure flap panel comprises: a top wall closure panelextending from the panel edge of the rear wall panel opposite the bottomwall panel; and a front wall closure panel extending from the edge ofthe top wall closure panel opposite the rear wall panel.
 15. A blankaccording to claim 13 in which the front wall panel has an openingcontiguous with the opening in the top wall panel.